Thanks to thy care! whose absolute com

480

mand Thus drives the stranger from our court and land.

Heav'n bless its owner with a better mind!
From envy free, to charity inclin'd.
This both Penelope and I afford:
Then, Prince! be bounteous of Ulysses'
board.

To give another's is thy hand so slow ?
So much more sweet to spoil than to be-
stow?'

'Whence, great Telemachus! this lofty strain ?'

(Antinous cries with insolent disdain) Portions like mine if ev'ry suitor gave, 490 Our walls this twelvemonth should not see the slave.'

He spoke, and lifting high above the board

His pond'rous footstool, shook it at his lord.

The rest with equal hand conferr'd the

And inly form'd revenge: then back with-` drew:

Before his feet the well-fill'd scrip he threw,

And thus with semblance mild address'd the crew:

'May what I speak your princely minds

approve,

Ye Peers and Rivals in this noble love! Not for the hurt I grieve, but for the cause. If, when the sword our country's quarrel draws,

Or if, defending what is justly dear, From Mars impartial some broad wound we bear,

560 The gen'rous motive dignifies the scar. But for mere want, how hard to suffer wrong!

Want brings enough of other ills along! Yet, if unjustice never be secure,

If fiends revenge, and Gods assert the poor,

Death shall lay low the proud aggressor's head,

And make the dust Antinoüs' bridal bed.' 'Peace, wretch! and eat thy bread without offence'

(The suitor cried), ' or force shall drag thee hence,

Scourge thro' the public street, and cast thee there,

570

A mangled carcass for the hounds to tear.' His furious deed the gen'ral anger mov'd;

All, ev'n the worst, condemn'd: and some reprov'd.

Was ever Chief for wars like these renown'd?

Ill fits the stranger and the poor to wound. Unbless'd thy hand, if, in this low disguise,

Wander, perhaps, some inmate of the skies:

They (curious oft of mortal actions) deign In forms like these to round the earth and main,

Just and unjust recording in their mind, 580 And with sure eyes inspecting all man

kind.'

Telemachus, absorb'd in thought severe, Nourish'd deep anguish, tho' he shed no

tear;

But the dark brow of silent sorrow shook: While thus his mother to her virgins spoke:

'On him and his may the bright God of Day

That base inhospitable blow repay!' The nurse replies: 'If Jove receives my prayer,

Not one survives to breathe to-morrow's air.'

'All, all are foes, and mischief is their end;

590

Antinoüs most to gloomy death a friend
(Replies the Queen): the stranger begg'd
their grace,

And melting pity soften'd ev'ry face;
From ev'ry other hand redress he found,
But fell Antinous answer'd with a wound.'
Amidst her maids thus spoke the prudent
Queen,

Then bade Eumæus call the pilgrim in.
'Much of th' experienc'd man I long to
hear,

If or his certain eye, or list'ning ear, Have learn'd the fortunes of my wand'ring lord?'

Thus she, and good Eumæus took the word:

'A private audience if thy grace impart,

600

619

To this the Queen: The wand'rer let me hear,

While yon luxurious race indulge their cheer,

640

If true, if faithful thou, her grateful mind Of decent robes a present has design'd: So finding favour in the royal eye, Thy other wants her subjects shall supply.' Fair truth alone' (the patient man replied) 'My words shall dictate, and my lips shall guide.

To him, to me, one common lot was giv'n, In equal woes, alas! involv'd by Heav'n. Much of his fates I know: but check'd by fear

I stand; the hand of violence is here: Here boundless wrongs the starry skies invade,

And injured suppliants seek in vain for

aid.

Let for a space the pensive Queen attend, 650

Nor claim my story till the sun descend; Then in such robes as suppliants may require,

Composed and cheerful by the genial fire, When loud uproar and lawless riot cease, Shall her pleas'd ear receive my words in peace.'

BOOK XXI

THE BENDING OF ULYSSES' BOW

ARGUMENT

Penelope, to put an end to the solicitations of the suitors, proposes to marry the person who shall first bend the bow of Ulysses, and shoot through the ringlets. After their attempts have proved ineffectual, Ulysses, taking Eumæus and Philætius apart, discovers himself to them; then returning, desires leave to try his strength at the bow, which, though refused with indignation by the suitors, Penelope and Telemachus cause to be delivered to his hands. He bends it immediately, and shoots through all the rings. Jupiter at the same instant thunders from heaven; Ulysses accepts the omen, and gives a sign to Telemachus, who stands ready armed at his side.

AND Pallas now, to raise the rivals' fires, With her own art Penelope inspires: Who now can bend Ulysses' bow, and wing The well-aim'd arrow thro' the distant ring, Shall end the strife, and win th' imperial dame;

But discord and black death await the game!

The prudent Queen the lofty stair ascends;

At distance due a virgin-train attends :
A brazen key she held, the handle turn'd,
With steel and polish'd elephant adorn'd: 10
Swift to the inmost room she bent her way,
Where, safe reposed, the royal treasures lay;
There shone high heap'd the labour'd brass
and ore,

And there the bow which great Ulysses bore;

And there the quiver, where now guiltless slept

Those winged deaths that many a matron wept.

This gift, long since when Sparta's shores he trod,

On young Ulysses Iphitus bestow'd:
Beneath Orsilochus's roof they met;
One loss was private, one a public debt; 20
Messena's state from Ithaca detains
Three hundred sheep, and all the shepherd

60

And pensive sate, and tears began to flow.
To full satiety of grief she mourns,
Then silent to the joyous hall returns;
To the proud suitors bears in pensive state
Th' unbended bow, and arrows wing'd with
fate.